Friends of Chris Wondolowski hold up a giant picture of his head in the stands during the introductions of both teams. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Friends of Chris Wondolowski hold up a giant picture of his head in...

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U.S. fans cheer in red smoke from a smoke bomb before the start of the game on Tuesday. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Azerbaijan's Rauf Alliyev (11) reacts to being called for a foul against Jozy Altidor (17) in the first half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Graham Zusi (19) passes the ball behind Azerbaijan's Elvin Yunuszade (29) in the first half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Alejandro Bedoya (11) hits the ball with his head in front of Azerbaijan's Rasim Ramaldanov (3) in the first half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Jermaine Jones (13) gets crossed up with Azerbaijan's Abdulla Abasiyev in the first half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Azerbaijan's Mahir Shukurov (4) and U.S.'s Alejandro Bedoya (11) jump for a ball in the first half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Azerbaijan's Mahir Shukurov (4) and U.S.'s Alejandro Bedoya (11) jump for a ball in the first half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

U. S. Men's goalie Tim Howard (1) during warmups on Tuesday. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Freddie Estrada of Oakland with the San Jose Ultras cheers the men's team before the start of the game Tuesday. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

U.S. fans cheer amid streamers and confetti before the start of the game on Tuesday. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

U.S. fans cheer amid streamers and confetti before the start of the...

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Chris Wondolowski (18) fights for the ball against Azerbaijan's Vagif Javadov in the first half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Mix Dikerud #10 of the United States celebrates with Aron Johannsson #9, Matt Besler #5, and Omar Gonzalez #3 after he scored a goal against Azerbaijan during their match at Candlestick Park on May 27, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Mix Dikerud #10 of the United States...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Aron Johannsson #9 of the United States is congratulated by teammates including Mix Diskerud #10 after he scored a goal against Azerbaijan during their match at Candlestick Park on May 27, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Aron Johannsson #9 of the United...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Aron Johannsson #9 and Matt Besler #5 of the United States celebrare after Johannsson scored a goal against Azerbaijan during their match at Candlestick Park on May 27, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Aron Johannsson #9 and Matt Besler #5...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Mix Dikerud #10 of the United States celebrates after he scored a goal against Azerbaijan during their match at Candlestick Park on May 27, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Mix Dikerud #10 of the United States...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Mix Dikerud #10 of the United States scores a goal against Azerbaijan during their match at Candlestick Park on May 27, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 27: Mix Dikerud #10 of the United States...

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Aron Johannsson gets tangled with Ilkin Girtimov while going for a ball in the second half as Maksim Medvedev approaches.

Brad Davis (14) gets a hug from Tim Howard (1) after the U.S. defeated Azerbaijan. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

U. S. Men's goalie Tim Howard (1) during warmups on Tuesday. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Brad Davis (14) tries to steal the ball from Gara Garayev (8) in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Tim Howard (1) clears the ball from in front of the goal in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Matt Besler (5) and Brad Davis (14) celebrate with Aron Johannsson (9) after Johannsson scored in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Jermaine Jones (13) and Pardis Fardjad-Azad battle for the ball in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Pardis Fardjad-Azad (28) goes airborne trying to get the ball away from Jermaine Jones (13) in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Deandre Yedlin (2) passes the ball while defended by Rauf Allyev (11) in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Tim Howard (1) high fives Omar Gonzalez (5) after the U.S. scored their second goal in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Omar Gonzalez (3) dribbles the ball away from Azerbaijan's Rauf Allyev (11) in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Jermaine Jones (13) gets tripped up trying to get the ball from Azerbaijan's Pardis Fardjad-Azad (28) in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Jozy Altidor (17) dribbles the ball in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

The U.S. Men's team celebrates with Aron Johannsson (9) after he scored in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

The U.S. Men's team celebrates with Aron Johannsson (9) after he scored in the second half. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played the Azerbaijan Men's National Team at Candlestick Park in an international friendly match on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

While far from an aesthetic success - thanks to the tricky winds of Candlestick Park - the U.S. national soccer team's first exhibition game ahead of the World Cup produced a win and a satisfied coach.

"This was exactly what we needed after two fully loaded weeks of preparation at Stanford," coach Jurgen Klinsmann said of the 2-0 win over Azerbaijan before a crowd of 24,688 Tuesday night.

The Earthquakes' Chris Wondolowski started at forward in place of Clint Dempsey, a late scratch because of a sore groin. Wondolowski had three fine chances in the first half, only to come up empty.

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"The field was great, but the wind was playing havoc," he said. "Even when the ball was on the ground, it was tough."

Against the 85th ranked team in the world, the U.S. shot numerous blanks until subs Mix Diskerud and Aron Johannsson, both of whom play professionally in Scandinavia, scored second-half goals.

It was the first of three exhibition matches the U.S. will play in the Send-Off Series. The team will play Turkey on Sunday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., and Nigeria (also headed to the World Cup) on June 7 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.

Team USA had a 14-7 advantage in shots, and the visitors seemed content for much of the game to sit back and let the Yanks hog the scoring chances.

But Klinsmann said he was happy with the effort of his team. "They gave us a good game," he said. "We needed to grind it out. We had to be patient. ... It was tricky with the conditions. The wind was taking the ball all over the place, but everyone did fine."

Dempsey's groin injury is "not serious at all - he just needs one or two days rest," Klinsmann said.

It took 75 minutes for the U.S. to get on the board. Diskerud headed the ball to Michael Bradley, whose shot from just inside the box was stopped by defender Elvin Yunuszade just short of the goal line. The rebound, though, was pounded home by Diskerud, a 23-year-old midfielder who had entered the game four minutes earlier.

Diskerud, who made his mark in the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer, was given the No. 10 jersey that had been worn by Landon Donovan in the 2010 World Cup and by captain Claudio Reyna in the two previous World Cups. Klinsmann gave the impression that the number was not a big deal, but Diskerud said, "It's an honor because a lot of great players have worn it."

Johannsson, 23, connected on a 5-yard header off a corner kick by Brad Davis in the 81st minute.

Wondolowski nearly scored just four minutes into the game. His diving header off a free kick by Graham Zusi was saved by goalkeeper Kamran Aghayev.

"With a little bit of luck, he scores that header right away," Klinsmann said.

Another Wondolowski header was thwarted by a leaping Aghayev and pushed over the crossbar in the 16th minute. In the 38th minute, he pushed his left-footed kick into the side of the net from short range.

"Even though on paper we probably should have run over them, it wasn't easy," said goalkeeper Tim Howard, whose 53rd win tied him with Kasey Keller for first place among U.S. keepers.